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Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune/TNS

Julia Poe: Bulls' Lonzo Ball showcases the NBA's need for a Comeback Player of the Year award

Sports / Basketball /

CHICAGO — The three-year anniversary of Lonzo Ball’s ill-fated knee injury passed without fanfare Tuesday night.

For the past two years, the anniversary served as an ominous reminder of the depth of uncertainty surrounding the Chicago Bulls point guard’s future in the sport. When the first year passed, it felt foreboding. The second year ...Read more

Andy Lyons/Getty Images North America/TNS

Florida coach Todd Golden: 'Don't rush to judgment' on accusations against assistant Taurean Green

Sports / Basketball /

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida coach Todd Golden encouraged “people not to rush to judgment” in the wake of sexual assault allegations against Gators assistant and national championship-winning point guard Taurean Green.

Under investigation himself for sexual harassment and stalking, Golden also questioned the university’s Title IX process...Read more

76ers' Joel Embiid will miss 5th consecutive road game at Denver Nuggets

Sports / Basketball /

DENVER — Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid will miss the team’s upcoming road trip after experiencing increased swelling in his left knee after a workout Thursday, the team announced, meaning Embiid will not play in Denver for the fifth consecutive season.

The Nuggets and Sixers are set to play next Tuesday (8 p.m. MT) in a nationally ...Read more

Harry How/Getty Images North America/TNS

Michael Cunningham: Hawks are pretty good now. Here's how they can get better with trades.

Sports / Basketball /

ATLANTA — The Dejounte Murray trade once appeared to be a huge loss for the Hawks. Credit general manager Landry Fields for narrowing the margin by shipping Murray to the Pelicans last summer. That deal ultimately could end up being a win for the Hawks. They are pretty good now, and Fields has the means to make them better before the Feb. 6 ...Read more

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images North America/TNS

Sacramento Kings win again, beating Houston Rockets behind big fourth quarter from DeRozan

Sports / Basketball /

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — DeMar DeRozan scored 33 points and Domantas Sabonis recorded his league-leading 36th double-double of the season to lead the Sacramento Kings to a 132-127 victory over the Houston Rockets on Thursday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.

DeRozan scored 26 points in the second half and 16 in the fourth quarter for the Kings (...Read more

Andy Lyons/Getty Images North America/TNS

Report: Florida basketball assistant Taurean Green accused of sexual assault

Sports / Basketball /

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida assistant coach Taurean Green is the target of a sexual assault complaint filed by an athletics department employee, according to an ESPN report.

The accuser said Green, the Gators’ point guard of back-to-back national champions in 2006-07, arranged to meet her in March 2024 an on-campus facility. Once there, ...Read more

Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group/TNS

Dieter Kurtenbach: There is a tried-and-true solution to the Warriors' problems. They should pursue it.

Sports / Basketball /

Toughness?

Competitiveness?

That’s what the Warriors showed in Wednesday’s hold-on-for-dear-life win over the Timberwolves — a game they led 34-12 after one quarter but ended with a one-point margin of victory.

Sure, we can go with that, Steph Curry.

There is, of course, another way of looking at it: The Warriors — who have won eight...Read more

Dawson Garcia's long 3-pointer lifts Minnesota over Michigan, to first Big Ten win of the season

Sports / Basketball /

MINNEAPOLIS — Figuring out how to win in the Big Ten was something that always seemed to escape Ben Johnson’s Minnesota men’s basketball team, especially in the second half.

Gophers fans sensed something might be different Thursday night as the game came down to the final minutes against No. 20 Michigan.

Dawson Garcia’s near half-court...Read more

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images North America/TNS

Pistons unable to keep pace in home loss vs. Pacers

Sports / Basketball /

DETROIT — Through the first 41 games, every coach around the association has raved about the Detroit Pistons. They have spent the first half of the season as the league's most improved team, but no coach has praised the Pistons for their progression more than Rick Carlisle.

Despite leaving Detroit with a victory on Oct. 23, Carlisle knew the ...Read more

Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune/TNS

How can Sky fans watch Angel Reese in Unrivaled? What are the rules? Everything to know about the new 3-on-3 league.

Sports / Basketball /

CHICAGO — Professional women’s basketball returns Friday as the Unrivaled league kicks off its inaugural season — and Chicago Sky star Angel Reese will be at the center of it all as she makes her debut with Rose Basketball Club.

Founded by WNBA stars Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, Unrivaled is a 3-on-3 league designed to provide ...Read more

John McCall/South Florida Sun Sentinel/TNS

As Jimmy Butler suspension ends, Heat icon Dwyane Wade sees net loss for all involved: 'This is tragic'

Sports / Basketball /

MIAMI — Perhaps little says as much about the convoluted current relationship between Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat as this: The team has reached the end game of its seven-game unpaid suspension of the former All-Star forward with the situation nonetheless ongoing.

With Wednesday night’s 117-108 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto....Read more

AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post/TNS

Troy Renck: Who is Jamal Murray? Bubble Jamal? Bubble Wrap Jamal? Nuggets' season hinges on answer.

Sports / Basketball /

DENVER — Jamal Murray glared exclusively at The Denver Post.

The time was last July after Canada’s exhibition game against Team USA in Las Vegas. There was only one pertinent question: What is going on with the contract extension? “When we get there, we get there,” snapped Murray.

He was not comfortable talking about the deal, and he ...Read more

Harry How/Getty Images North America/TNS

LeBron James waved at young fan sitting courtside at Lakers game. Then she cried tears of joy

Sports / Basketball /

LOS ANGELES — LeBron James made a young Lakers fan's night Wednesday at Crypto.com Arena. And then for good measure, he did it again.

During the first quarter of the Lakers' game against the Miami Heat, James noticed a girl sitting courtside and wearing a replica of his jersey. So he gave her a wave, then turned his attention back to the game...Read more

Clippers set record for largest margin of victory in franchise history in win over Nets

Sports / Basketball /

They began a slew of games on Wednesday night in which the Clippers’ fortitude was expected to be tested.

They are in this space because of the devastating wildfires that rampaged across the Los Angeles area that caused the postponement of a Clippers’ game and forced the NBA to reschedule games.

So, starting with the Clippers’ 126-67 ...Read more

David Berding/Getty Images North America/TNS

Warriors escape with win over Timberwolves to cap tumultuous trip

Sports / Basketball /

MINNEAPOLIS — The Warriors hit their low-point of the season north of the border, but bounced back against the Timberwolves stateside.

Golden State dominated the first quarter, building a 24-point lead behind swarming defense and a barrage of 3-pointers.

No lead is safe in the NBA, especially a Warriors lead. Minnesota clawed back, quarter ...Read more

Harry How/Getty Images North America/TNS

Lakers overcome poor first half to defeat the Heat

Sports / Basketball /

Max Christie, the Lakers’ youngest starter, summarized the team’s defensive problems simply Wednesday morning. When the Lakers communicate and when they play with connectivity, they stop teams.

And when they don’t, well, they look like they did in the first half Wednesday night.

Playing the Miami Heat on Wednesday for the first time ...Read more

Gustavo Arellano/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Gustavo Arellano: 'When am I gonna come back?' A lifelong Clippers fan finally sees them in person.

Sports / Basketball /

LOS ANGELES — Nelson Rodriguez has rooted for the Clippers his entire life, but the fandom of the Santa Ana resident was out of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."

The 37-year-old never owned an article of the team's clothing growing up, or even as an adult. He can only keep up with them on social media since Nelson doesn't subscribe to ...Read more

AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post/TNS

Nikola Jokic injures elbow warming up for Nuggets' game against Rockets

Sports / Basketball /

DENVER — Nuggets center Nikola Jokic injured his right elbow while warming up Wednesday night and was ruled out before Denver’s 128-108 loss to the Houston Rockets.

The injury was officially listed as right elbow inflammation. Jokic has now missed six games this season.

The three-time league MVP is averaging 30.6 points, 13.2 rebounds and ...Read more

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images North America/TNS

Nuggets blown out by Rockets at home after Nikola Jokic a last-minute injury scratch

Sports / Basketball /

DENVER — The Nuggets are not invincible on 24 hours of rest after all.

Back home after blowing out Dallas in prime time, Denver was dealt an unexpected blow an hour before opening tip Wednesday when Nikola Jokic was ruled out due to right elbow inflammation, an injury he sustained while warming up, the team said.

The Nuggets couldn’t ...Read more

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images North America/TNS

Michigan State rides its depth to dump Penn State; win streak at 10

Sports / Basketball /

EAST LANSING, Mich. — A 10-point lead faded to four in the final minute, but now the Michigan State men’s basketball team has its 10th straight win.

Riding deep contributions that saw eight players score seven points or more, No. 12 Michigan State beat Penn State, 90-85, Wednesday at Breslin Center. Though foul trouble and tough finishes ...Read more